A Look Inside Secunia Software Inspector

June 22, 2008 By Leave a Comment

I’ve found a great tool that examines my computer to make sure that it has the latest updates of the most common software packages — not all the updates, but the security updates for the versions I’m runninng.

It’s called Secunia Software Inspector, from the Danish security firm Secunia (www.secunia.com).

Secunia offers three versions of its software inspectors:

* Secunia Software Inspector — scan on-line (free)
* Secunia PSI — download version for personal use (free)
* Secunia Network Software Inspector — the full-featured product.

Quoting Secunia’s FAQ:

# What’s the difference between the Secunia PSI and the Secunia Software Inspector (the online version)?

The Secunia Software Inspector identifies about 40 of the most common applications, while the Secunia PSI can identify over 4,200.

Contine reading A Look Inside Secunia Software Inspector

Filed Under: Admin Control, Data Security, Free Software, Resources, Reviews, System Security, System Stability, Vista, Windows Xp

Using the free Google Photo Screensaver

May 26, 2008 By Leave a Comment

The Google Screensaver is one of the amazing free applications that is part of Google’s free Google Pack software package.

The Google Screensaver is optional as part of Google Pack, but it’s one component that you should not miss. With it, you can have a screensaver that uses your own photos that you’ve accumulated and edited in Google Picasa, from Picasa Web Albums, from your own photos from folders on your computer that you specify (so you can use some photos as screensaver images, but not others), and from photo feeds (which defaults to “Default Google Photo Feed.”)

You can control how often the picture changes. You can also control the type of transition from one image to the next. The Visual Effect lets you choose Pan and Zoom, Collage, Wipe and Cross-Fade.

You can access the control panel for Google Screensaver in either of two ways:

Continue reading Using the free Google Photo Screensaver

Filed Under: Free Software, Software, Tips & Tricks, Vista, Windows Xp

The GreatNews RSS Reader Review

September 8, 2007 By Leave a Comment

What’s an RSS feed and why should I be interested?

The most frequently updated content sites on the Internet are blogs. In fact, blogs are so easy to update and to maintain that some regular web sites are converting to the blog format. RSS feeds are a way that you can get titles and introductions to the lastest articles — without having to go to the web site to see if there’s something new! The RSS reader that I use is GreatNews, from

Product: GreatNews
Class: RSS Reader
License: Freeware
Version Reviewed: 1.0.0.381 (Beta)
Publisher: Curio Studio, www.curiostudio.com

For some reason, they’re still calling GreatNews a Beta version. Beta is a pre-release status where the author(s) have resolved most of the bugs and they’re allowing others to test the program. I’ve been using GreatNews for about six months and have yet to find a bug!

Continue reading The GreatNews RSS Reader Review

Filed Under: Free Software, Resources, Software, Tips & Tricks

Google Earth – A View from Space

September 2, 2007 By Leave a Comment

In the Using Google Maps article, we saw how we could find a location on the maps. Then, we saw that we could see a satellite view and even a hybrid view with the map superimposed over the satellite view. We could zoom, too.

Google has another neat satellite-view program. This one is Google Earth, which is free and is part of the free Google Pack software package.

There’s not much I can say about Google Earth. That’s because I don’t know where to start…

Let’s try some bullet points:

  • You start in space, looking at the Earth. You can turn the Earth with the pointers, or by dragging it, or by double-clicking on a spot.
  • Continue reading Google Earth – A View from Space
Filed Under: Free Software, Storage, Tips & Tricks

Google Desktop – Free Software to Search Your Computer

August 20, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Google Desktop is Google’s free search system for your own hard drive. Google Desktop is designed to run all the time, but to do its real work — indexing your hard drive to get the information for its search results — while your computer is idle.

 

Tech Tip
Since Google Desktop only does its indexing while your computer is idle, you have to leave it running to get the best results. The initial indexing will probably require that you leave the computer running over night.

Your first step is to download and install the free Google Pack software package (the same one that includes Picasa). During this process, you select which optional programs you also want to download, if any. The program you’ll download is the Google Updater, which handles the rest of the process.

The Google Updater is also the program you use to control the Google Pack later, including adding additional programs or uninstalling some of them.

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Filed Under: Free Software, Reviews, Software, Tips & Tricks

Google’s Free Google Pack Software Package

July 8, 2007 By 1 Comment

Google has packaged five of its free software programs into one easy-to-download, easy-to-install package.

Included in the new Google Pack are Google Earth, Picasa, Google Pack Screensaver, Google Desktop and the Google Toolbar.

Google Earth is a cool application that works through your web browser and high-speed (cable or DSL) Internet connection. It’s not suitable for dialup. Google Earth shows you zoomable pictures of the earth, down to the level of being able to spot your house. (I can see my house and the neighbor’s car in his driveway.)

Picasa is Google’s photo organizer. It has an unusual interface that lets you find, edit and share your photos easily.

Continue reading Google’s Free Google Pack Software Package

Filed Under: Free Software, Graphics, Software, Tips & Tricks
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